Wrist mounted notepad carrying device

ABSTRACT

A wrist mounted notepad carrying device is disclosed. The device is securable to a user&#39;s wrist via a wrist strap. Removably attached to the wrist strap is a casing. The casing has bottom and side surfaces. The casing also has a top member which is removably attached to remainder of the casing by a hinge or other suitable means. Disposed within the casing is a notepad. In various embodiments, the present invention may also include a variety of other features, either singularly or in combination with one another. Other features may include, but are not limited to a timekeeping device, informational indicia, a ruler, a light source, and or a writing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to notepads, and more specifically to awrist mounted notepad carrying device.

2. Description of the Related Art

People in various professions continually have to write down informationquickly. For example, people in the medical professions are often forcedto write information on any nearby scrap of paper, a part of their bodyor some other surface. Not having a convenient notepad can lead to apoor record of information, which in turn can lead to mistakes.

Some attempts have been made to mount a note or memo pad on a user'swrist. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,481 discloses a memo padassembly. The memo pad assembly has a strap, suitable for securing theassembly to a user's wrist or other body part. Sheets of paper arestored in a drawer that inserts into a slot in a compartment sectionthat is attached to the strap. The assembly also has a writinginstrument that can be stored in another slot in the compartmentsection. Unfortunately, the disclosed memo pad assembly is notconvenient to use and the strap is not conveniently changed.

On a device such as a wrist mounted note or memo pad, an interchangeablewrist strap is a vital feature due to the fact that the wrist strapsfrequently become damaged, worn or soiled.

SUMMARY

In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a wrist mounted notepad carrying device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wristmounted notepad carrying device with a removable wrist strap.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wristmounted notepad carrying device with a timekeeping device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wristmounted notepad carrying device with a ruler.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wristmounted notepad carrying device with space to provide informationalindicia.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wristmounted notepad carrying device with a light source.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wristmounted notepad carrying device with a writing device.

The present invention is a wrist mounted notepad carrying device. Thedevice is securable to a user's wrist via a wrist strap. Removablyattached to the wrist strap is a casing. The casing has bottom and sidesurfaces. The casing also has a top member which is attached toremainder of the casing by a hinge or other suitable means. Disposedwithin the casing is a notepad.

In various embodiments, the present invention may also include a varietyof other features, either singularly or in combination with one another.Other features may include, but are not limited to a timekeeping device,informational indicia, a ruler, a light source, and or a writing device.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the followingfigures, wherein like reference numerals represent like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice a according to the present invention having an optional ruler andproviding an optional space for optional informational indicia.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to the present invention having an optional timekeepingdevice, an optional light source, and an optional ruler.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to the present invention having an optional lightsource disposed in an optional light source compartment, an optionaltimekeeping device, and an optional writing device.

FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to the present invention having an optional rulerdisposed in an optional ruler compartment and an optional writing deviceremoved from an optional writing device compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is a wrist mounted notepad carrying device 100.FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice 100 according to the present invention having an optional ruler230 and providing an optional space for optional informational indicia220. The device 100 is securable to a user's wrist via a wrist strap110. The wrist strap 110 can be made of any suitable material forwatchbands or other items worn on a user's wrist. Preferably the wriststrap 110 is made from hook and loop fabric, wherein one end of thestrap is securable to the other end using the fastening properties ofthe hook and loop fabric. Other traditional means for securing a wriststrap 110 to a user's wrist may also be used, including, but not limitedto buckles, snaps, or the elastic properties of the wrist strap 110itself.

Removably attached to the wrist strap 110 is a casing 120. Removabilityof the strap facilitates the interchangeability of wrist strap 110 andcasing 120. Interchangeability of the wrist strap 110 makes the device100 more appealing and useful to a user, particularly when the wriststrap 110 becomes damaged, worn, or soiled. The casing 120 may beattached to the wrist strap 110 by any means known in the art. Forexample, and not by limitation, the casing 120 may be attached to thewrist strap 110 using hook and loop fasteners, snaps, or pins.Alternately the casing 120 may have slots 130, through which the wriststrap 110 passes.

The casing 120 has a bottom surface 140 and side surfaces 150. Typicallythe casing 120 will be substantially rectangular in shape, althoughother shapes may also be used, including, but not limited to,substantially oval, substantially circular or other polygonal orirregular shapes. The actual dimensions of the bottom surface 140 andside surfaces 150 can vary with the various embodiments and featuresincluded with the device 100. The casing 120 also has a top member 160which is removably attached to a portion of the casing 120 by a hinge170 or other suitable means. The top member 160 has an interior surface180 and an exterior surface 190, wherein the interior surface 180 facesthe inside of the casing 120 and is visible when the top member 160 isin an opened position. The exterior surface 190 faces the oppositedirection from the interior surface 180.

Disposed within the casing 120 is a notepad 200. The notepad 200 canhave any suitable dimensions. Preferably the notepad 200 uses readilyavailable pads of paper of standardized dimensions. For example, smallPOST-IT brand pads of paper are readily available in one hundred sheetpads and are 34.9 mm high by 47.6 mm wide. Other brand pads of paper orpads of paper manufactured specifically to go with the present inventionmay also be used.

In various embodiments, the present invention may also include a varietyof other features, either singularly or in combination with one another.Other features may include, but are not limited to, a timekeeping device210, informational indicia 220, a ruler 230, a light source 240, and ora writing device 250. FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a wristmounted notepad carrying device 100 according to the present inventionhaving an optional timekeeping device 210, an optional light source 240,and an optional ruler 230. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a wristmounted notepad carrying device 100 according to the present inventionhaving an optional light source 240 disposed in an optional light sourcecompartment 270, an optional timekeeping device 210, and an optionalwriting device 250. FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a wristmounted notepad carrying device 100 according to the present inventionhaving an optional ruler 230 disposed in an optional ruler compartment260 and an optional writing device 250 removed from an optional writingdevice compartment 280.

The timekeeping device 210 can be mounted in or on the top member 160 ofthe casing 120 and can be visible either when viewing the interiorsurface 180 (as shown in FIG. 3) or the exterior surface 190 (as shownin FIG. 2). The timekeeping device 210 increases the functionality ofthe present invention by providing a readily accessible source of thepresent time or a timer for timing various events. Often, a user willwant to know the time when a particular notation was made on the notepad200. Having a timekeeping device included with the present inventionfacilitates proper note making. Similarly, the user may want to time aparticular event and then record information about that event on thenotepad 200. In other various embodiments, the timekeeping device 210may be mounted on or in the wrist strap 110.

The top member 160 (as shown in FIG. 1), or other portions of the device100 may also serve as convenient repositories for readily neededinformational indicia 220. This informational indicia 220 may include,but is not limited to, a calendar, unit conversion tables orcalculations, medical information, instructional information,cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructions, emergency responseinformation, or other information. The informational indicia 220 may beincluded in the manufacture of the device 100, such as through embossingor other manufacturing techniques, or may be added at a later time, suchas in the form of appliqués, decals, or the like.

A ruler 230 may be disposed in or on the casing 120. In FIGS. 1 and 2,the rule 230 is incorporated into the side surfaces 150 of the casing120. Depending on the user's field or occupation, a ruler 230 is afrequently used tool. For example, the ruler 230 may be used to measurepieces or parts for a building project or used to measure the size of awound. Preferably the ruler 230 is externally accessible from the device100. In various embodiments (as shown in FIG. 4), the ruler 230 may beretractable into the casing 120, or retractable into a ruler compartment260 in the casing 120. In other various embodiments, the ruler 230 maybe removable from the device 100. The ruler 230 may also be incorporatedinto the wrist strap 110.

In various embodiments, the present invention also includes a lightsource 240. The light source 240 may be mounted on or in the interiorsurface 180 of the top member 160 (as shown in FIG. 3), such that itilluminates the notepad 200 when the top member is in an open position.The light source 240 may also be externally visible from the device 100(as shown in FIG. 2), thus serving as a wrist mounted flashlight. Thelight source 240 may also be removable from the device 100. For example,the light source 240 may be removable from a recessed light sourcecompartment 270 in the casing 120 (as shown in FIG. 3).

In various embodiments, the present invention also includes a writingdevice 250. Since the present invention includes a notepad 200, a usermay find it desirable to include a writing device 250, such as a pen orpencil, with the device 100. The writing device 250 may be mounted, forexample, on or in the casing 120 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) or on thewrist strap 110. For example, the writing device 250 may be removablefrom a recessed writing device compartment 280 in the casing 120 (asshown in FIG. 4).

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerousmodifications come to mind without significantly departing from thespirit of the invention and the scope of protection is limited by thescope of the accompanying claims.

1. A wrist mounted notepad carrying device comprising: a wrist strap, acasing, having bottom and side members, wherein said casing is removablyattached to said strap, a notepad disposed within said casing, and a topmember, having interior and exterior surfaces, wherein said top membercan be selectively opened or closed with respect to said casing.
 2. Thewrist mounted notepad carrying device according to claim 1, wherein saidtop member further comprises a timekeeping device visible upon viewingsaid interior surface.
 3. The wrist mounted notepad carrying deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said top member further comprises atimekeeping device visible upon viewing said exterior surface.
 4. Thewrist mounted notepad carrying device according to claim 1, wherein saidtop member further comprises informational indicia.
 5. The wrist mountednotepad carrying device according to claim 4, wherein said informationalindicia comprises a calendar.
 6. The wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to claim 4, wherein said informational indiciacomprises a unit conversion table.
 7. The wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to claim 4, wherein said informational indiciacomprises medical information.
 8. The wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to claim 4, wherein said informational indiciacomprises instructional information.
 9. The wrist mounted notepadcarrying device according to claim 8, wherein said instructionalinformation comprises CPR instructions.
 10. The wrist mounted notepadcarrying device according to claim 4, wherein said informational indiciacomprises emergency response information.
 11. The wrist mounted notepadcarrying device according to claim 1, further comprising a rulerexternally accessible from said device.
 12. The wrist mounted notepadcarrying device according to claim 11, wherein said ruler is retractablycontained within said casing.
 13. The wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to claim 11, wherein said ruler is removable from saiddevice.
 14. The wrist mounted notepad carrying device according to claim1, further comprising a light source.
 15. The wrist mounted notepadcarrying device according to claim 14, wherein said light sourceeffectively illuminates said notepad when said top member is in an openposition.
 16. The wrist mounted notepad carrying device according toclaim 14, wherein said light source is removable from said device. 17.The wrist mounted notepad carrying device according to claim 14, whereinsaid light source is externally visible from said device.
 18. The wristmounted notepad carrying device according to claim 1, further comprisinga writing device externally mounted on said casing.
 19. The wristmounted notepad carrying device according to claim 1, further comprisinga writing device externally removably contained in a recessedcompartment in said casing.
 20. The wrist mounted notepad carryingdevice according to claim 1, further comprising: wherein said top memberfurther comprises a timekeeping device, wherein said top member furthercomprises informational indicia, a ruler externally accessible from saiddevice, a light source, and a writing device.